Faith

When Faith Evans released her self-titled debut Faith on August 29, 1995, some thought her record deal with Bad Boy was a perk of marrying its flagship artist The Notorious B.I.G.

An October 1995 cover story in Vibe Magazine dismissed that notion that B.I.G. fueled Faith’s success. In fact, it was her songwriting for artists like Usher and Mary J. Blige that earned her bigger checks than her husband at the time they married. Soon, both her songwriting and amazing voice were center stage on unforgettable singles like “You Used To Love Me” and “Soon As I Get Home.”

Production from Puff Daddy, Chucky Thompson, and Herb Middleton rose to the occasion of cradling Faith’s smoky, light, Gospel-wrought voice on ballads about love, loss, and desire. The album eventually peaked at #2 on the Billboard R&B charts and was certified platinum in March 1996.